As the tumultuous 2011 comes down to its final day, this column could contain an obnoxious summary of the year’s extraordinary events. Rather than once again discussing the protests around the world, the death of Osama Bin Laden, Fukushima, America’s political ineptitude, Europe’s demise or the increasingly frightful weather patterns, here I attempt to predict what 2012 holds in store.

For one of the first times in his tenure as Speaker, John Boehner has made a statement with which every American, Republican or Democrat, should fully agree; the two-month Senate bipartisan extension of the payroll tax cut fails to fix the nation’s problems sufficiently. Providing a short-term band-aid to a long-term dilemma contradicts what a responsible government should accomplish, but fits the pattern of contemporary American politicking.

Mitt Romney is guilty of serial hypocrisy, Newt Gingrich is guilty of being a public intellectual constantly scrutinized by the media and others, and Ron Paul never ceases to remind me about one of my favorite quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Essays: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.”

Jon Huntsman did not participate in the CNN Debate in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. Short of his family and small (and getting smaller) campaign staff, no one really noticed. In a bizarre and counterproductive effort to impress New Hampshire voters Huntsman skipped the debate to protest Nevada moving its caucus ahead of New Hampshire’s, which has always been the nation’s first primary. It’s bizarre because no one else skipped the debate. It’s counterproductive because right now, Jon Huntsman is polling 6% in New Hampshire.

For the past month a movement has grown out of Zuccoti Park in New York with the potential to grab at the very heart of America’s problems. “We are the 99%” is not simply a catchy phrase used by frustrated jobless Americans , but a commentary on the disgraceful economic inequality that has arisen in the United States since the 1970s.

In the number one country in the world, the quality of an education should not depend on one’s state of residence. This is the United States of America, shouldn’t all of the state education systems be united?

As my wonderful summer internship in Washington D.C. came to an end this past week, I began to reflect on my experience. While I still have that fire burning in my belly, I admit that these past 10 weeks fatigued me, and I was only a full-time summer intern. Imagine the exhaustion of our heads of State. As the Midterms approach, more and more federal government staffers are burning out.

Are critical social issues such as equal opportunity, reproductive rights and LGBT rights meant for ballot measures, or should we leave them up to our state legislatures? While Lianna Stroster advocates for civic participation in legislation, she fears that some voters do not have a firm enough grasp on issues to make the wisest decisions.

With the recent announcement of HIV prevention advances comes many questions about the effectiveness and safety of new anti-HIV drug, Tenofovir. Lianna Stroster argues that when it comes to HIV prevention, politics must be put aside to promote safe sex.

Lianna Stroster discusses the reasons for Obama’s waning approval ratings and begs Americans to be more realistic in our presidential expectations. Do low ratings reflect reviews of Obama specifically, or do they reflect our unquenchable demand for immediate satisfaction?

It looks like the prosecutors have constructed a case that will cause former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to finally get what has been coming to him for attempting to sell President Obama’s former Senate seat. Unfortunately, as the trial moves onward, it looks like Blagojevich might bring a few others down with him.

Granting amnesty, with punishments, is the only viable solution to America’s ever-growing illegal immigration problem. Doing such would not only help the US economy but would be consistent with the reinforce the tradition set 234 years ago by this country’s original hardworking immigrants.

Pro-life advocates have had a recent string of disturbing legislative victories at the state level and it’s likely the Supreme Court will hear a case challenging Roe vs. Wade next season. SCOTUS nominee Elena Kagan needs to make a clear statement during her confirmation hearings that she would protect women’s rights if confirmed.

As an advocate of peace, not war, one can only hope that such diplomatic means will be the resolution to preventing Iran from acquiring a crude weapon. Nevertheless, reality forces us to confront such an ugly truth: how much longer can the United States and its Security Council allies continue on the ineffective diplomatic path Iran?

Last week’s primaries have forced liberal feminists to confront an uncomfortable question: as a woman, should we support the female candidate regardless of her party affiliation in order to see women hold seats in elected office? Does it matter whether she is a Republican or a Democrat?

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